Liquid spray apparatus



LIQUID SPRAY APPARATUS Filed June 19. 1930 I N VEN TOR.

Patented May 2; 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN' OFFICE FRANCIS A. NASON, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSTGN'OR TO THE LUBRIGRAPH CORPORATION, OF CLEVELANROHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO LIQUID SPRAY APPARATUS Applicationfiled June 19,

This invention, relating as indicated to liquid spray apparatus, has reference to the construction of an apparatus adapted to be employed for the purpose of spraying liquids of any character although more specifically designed to be employed as a means for spraying liquid lubricant such as oil, liquid graphite, etc. When some liquids, such as graphite oil are employed for the purpose of spraying, and the like, it is necessary that the body of such lubricant as sprayed will be of an even consistency. The common manner of accomplishing the agitation of the body of lubricant in the container is to have the air supply conduit for such container extend adjacent the bottom thereof, so that, as the air is forced into the container such air will agitate the liquid contained therein.

lVith the air supply conduit extending adjacent the bottom of the container, in order to efiect an agitation of the liquid contained therein, it is essential that some means he provided in association with such air supply conduit, so that, as the pressure in the air in such supply conduit drops below the pressure within the container, the liquid will not be forced back through such supply conduit. A. valve which is in association with the air supply conduit in order to be adaptable for use under all conditions usually encountered in the actual service of such apparatus must be positive in its function and must absolutely prevent any return flow of the liquid through the air supply conduit at any and all times when the pressure within such conduit drops below the pressure within the liquid container. A further requirement of such valve is that the operation thereof be exceedingly simple and that it have but relatively few moving parts which may become jammed or fouled, preventing the perfect functioning of such valve. Also, any valve means which can accomplish the above named desirable results should also be capable of being manufactured at a relatively low cost so that the cost of such spray apparatus will not make its use prohibitive.

It is among the objects of my invention to 1930. Serial No. 462,276.

provide a fluid spray apparatus, specifically a check valve therefor, having all of the above named desirable characteristics. Other obj ects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however,'but one of various mechanical forms in which. the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse, part-sectional, partelevational, view of the liquid spray apparatus comprising my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the fluid valve employed in connection with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of an alternative form of fluid valve construction.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, and more especially to Fig. 1, the liquid spray apparatus comprising my invention consists of a container 1 which has a preferably concave bottom 2 and a liquid and air-tight top 3 which are properly oined tothe sides of the container so as to present a rigid structure capable of withstanding the operating pressures to which such spray device is usually subjected. The container 1. may have apertures 4 formed in the sides and top thereof, which apertures afforda means for introducing to such container the liquid which is to be sprayed as well as a means for inspection, cleaning and other functions for which such apertures are usually designed. The apertures 4 are normally closed by screw plugs so that pressure may be built up on the interior of such container.

Extending through the top of the container is a block 5 which has associated therewith an air supply conduit 6 and a liquid delivery conduit 7. Suitable valves such as 8 and 9 are respectively in association with the conduits 6 and 7 for the purpose of closing such conduits as occasion" may demand. The block 5 may also have a fluid pressure gauge 10 associated therewith which, on account of being in communication with the interior of the container 1, indicates the pressure in suitable units within such container.

The air supply conduit 6 is in communication with a similar conduit 11 and the fluid delivery conduit 7 is in communication 'W1l3l1 a similar conduit 12 which conduits are preferably secured to that portion of the block 5 which extends interior-1y of the container 1. The fluid delivery conduit 12 extends to a point adjacent the concave bottom 2 so that the outlet port in the end thereof is always below the normal liquid level within such container. The air supply conduit 11 has associated therewith a valve 13 which has, in turn, secured thereto a downwardly extending air supply conduit 14; which likewise extends to a point adjacent the concave bottom 2, so that, as air is introduced to the container, such air will effect a thorough agitation of the liquid contained therein.

The valve member-13 which is designed for the purpose of preventing return flow of the liquid within the container through the air supply conduits 11 when the pressure within the container exceeds the pressure within such conduits, may be formed in the manner most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the body member 15 has formed therein substantially vertical bores 16 and 17' which areterminally enlarged as at 18 and 19 to'respectively receive the conduits 11 and 14. The bores 16 and 17 are connected by means of a sloping branch bore 20 which has in communication therewith a relief bore 21 which opens out of the body 15. The relief bore 21 has a greater crosssectional area than either the branch bore 20 or the bore 17 for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. The relief bore 21 has a sleeve 22 threadedly secured therein which sleeve has a valve seat 23 formed on th inner terminal thereof, which valve seat is oppositely disposed to a valve seat 24 formed on the shoulder at the junction of the relief bore 21 and the branch bore 20. A 7

-ment of the conduits 1'1 and 14. Abranch bore 32 connects the bores 28 and 29 and a relief bore 33 extends from such branch bore out through the side of the body 27. The relief bore 33 has a greater cross-sectional area than either the branch bore 32 or the bore 29 for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. The relief bore 33 has secured therein a sleeve 34 which has its inner terminal formed into a valve seat 35 for a ball valve 36 which is positioned insuch relief bore 'in'front of such valve seat. A transversely extending pin 37 prevents theball 36 from passing downwardly in the relief bore for a distance farther than is necessary for the proper functioning of such valve.

The operation of the apparatus comprising my invention will now be briefly described. The liquid to be sprayed is intro duced to the container 1 through the suitable aperture 4, after which such aperture is closed and air under pressure introduced to the container through the conduits (3, 11 and 14. The air entering the container 1 violently agitates the material contained therein and prepares such material for ejection through the delivery conduit 12. As the air under pressure passes into the valve body 15, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, through the bore 16, such air passing upwardly hrough the branch bore 20 forces the ball 25 against the seat 23 which seals such relief bore thereby causing the air to .be forced downwardly through the bore 17 through the conduit 14 and thence upwardly through the liquid. .f the air pressure in the conduit 6, and similarly in the bore 16, drops below the pressure within the container 1, the ball 25 will be immediately forced into engagement with the valve seat 21 under the action of the air admitted by the relief bore 21. By forming the relief bore 21 with a cross-sectional area greater than the branch bore 20, the amount of air available for the purpose of forcing the ball 25 into engagement with the seat 24 is sufficient to effect the engagement of the ball with such seat before any liquid has had an opportunity to pass upwardly into the bore 17 and into the branch bore 20.

By having the effective cross sectional area of the relief valve greater than the cross sectional area of the branch bore when the pressure on the air supply is cut off, the air within the container above the liquid will rush in through the branch bore, unseat the ball and force the same into engagement with the opposite valve seat in the branch bore on the other side of the lower duct associated with the lower section of the air introducing conduit. This movement of the ball valve takes place without any of the liquid backing up into the air line, due to the fact that the ball under the influence of gravity as well as the air rushing in through the relief duct will effect a sealing engagement of the ball on the lower. valve before the relieved air pressure has had an opportunity to lift the column of liquid in the lower air delivery tube. The same ape plies to the construction illustrated in F 3 in which the effective cross sectional area of the relief duct being larger than the cross sectional area of the branch ductthe excess pressure within the container will be relieved without any of the liquid flowing back into the air line. As an illustration of the relative proportions of the cross-sectional areas of the relief bore 21 and the branch bore 20, I have found that by having the crosssectional area of the relief bore ten percent. larger than the cross-sectional area of the branch bore, none of the liquid will ever pass back into the air supply conduit when the pressure therein drops below the pressure within the container.

By employing the valve structure most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the air is introduced to the container 1 in the manner hereinbefore described, passing through the bore 28, the branch bore 32, and the downward'y extending bore 29 and the conduit 14. The air entering the container will force the ball 36 into engagement with the valve seat so that such air is forced to percolate through the liquid within the container, thereby effecting the proper agitation.

As the pressure within the branch bore 32, which will be considered equivalent to the pressure within the air supply conduit 6, drops below the pressure within the cor; tainer '1, such pressure will unseat the ball 36 and permit the pressure hin the container to be relieved by air passing from the relief bore 33 to the branch bore 32 and out through thebore 28 and conduits 11 and 6 without carrying any of the liquid with it contained in the bore 29 and the conduit 14. Here, again, by having the cross-sectional area of the relief bore 33 greater than the cross-sectional area of the branch bore 32, the pressure within such relief here will be great enough to relieve the pressure within the container 1 without any of the liquid rising in the bore 29 due to the weight of such column of liquid in such bore and in the conduit l4. 7

When the construction as illustrated in Fig. 3 is employed, in order to absolutely insure that no liquid will rise in the bore 29 to a point where it will be carried over into the branch bore 32, the relief bore 33 should be approximately twenty-five percent. greater in. cross-sectional area than the branch bore 82. By employing this latter form of construction, as soon as the pressure within the air supply conduit drop below the pressure within the container, the pressure Within such container will be immediately relieved until a condition of equilibrium results between the pressures within the air supply conduits and within the container 1. This equilibrium of prossures is obtained without any of the liquid in the container backing up into the air supply conduit due to the relative cross-sectional areas of the relief bore 33 and the branch bore 32 as well as the weight of the column of liquid in the bore 29 and the conduit 14.

By employing the apparatus comprising my invention, it will be noted that a return of the liquid within the container to the air supply conduit is absolutely prevented if and when the pressure within the supply conduit drops belowthe pressure within the container. A further advantage of the apparatus comprising my invention is that the valve is simple in its construction, thereby reducing the cost of its manufacture, as well as the elimination of a number of moving partswhich always present the possibility of becoming foul and interfering with the function of the valve. A further description of the principles comprises my invention is believed unnecessary to thosefamiliar with the art, suflice it to say that the values for the respective dimensions of the several parts of the valves can berdeparted from without effecting the operation of such valve, such values being cited merely as illustrative of. the relative sizes of the several parts, although it is to be understood that other relative sizes may be employed without detracting from the efficiency of operation of the valve.

ther modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, providedthe means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

'1. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extendin g into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inletconduit extend ing into said container to below the-liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body, two bores in said body in communication with different sections of said conduit, a branch bore connecting said bores within said body, a relief bore extending out of said body from said branch bore, said relief bore being of greater effective cross sectional area than said branch bore, and a valve movable to seal said relief bore when the pressurewithin such branch bore exceeds the pressure within said container.

2.111 combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit-extending into said container to a point close to the of the one explained, change being made bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body, two bores in communication with different sections of said conduit, respectively open at the top and bottom of said body, a branch bore connecting said bores within said body, a relief bore extending out of said body from said branch bore, said relief bore being of greater effective cross-sectional area than either said branch bore or the lower of said first-named bores, and a valve movable to seal said relief bore when the pressure within such branch bore exceeds the pressure within said container.

3. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit-having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body, two bores respectively in commumcation with different sections of said conduit, a horizontally inclined branch bore connecting said first-named bores, arelief bore extending out of said body from said branch bore, said relief bore being of greater effective cross-sectional area than said branch bore, and a valve movable to seal said relief bore when the pressure within said branch bore exceeds the pressure within said container.

4. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body, two bores respectively incommunication with different sections of said conduit, a horizontally inclined branch bore connecting said vertical bores, a relief bore extending out of said body from said branch bore, said relief bore being of greater effective cross-sectional area than either said branch bore or the lower of said vertical bores, and a valve movable to seal said relief bore when the pressure within said branch bore exceeds the pressure within said container.

5. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body, two vertical bores in said body respectively in communication with different sections of said conduit, an inclined branch bore connecting said vertical bores within said body, a relief bore opening out of said body from said branch bore, said relief bore being of greater effective cross-sectional area than said branch bore, a valve seat in said branch bore, and a valve movable in contact with said seat to seal said relief bore when the pressure within said branch bore exceeds the pressure within said container.

6. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body having bores adapted to respectively communicate with different sections of said conduit, a branch bore connecting said bores, a relief bore extending from said branch bore out of said body, the effective crosssectional area of said relief bore being greater than the smallest cross-sectional area in the air inlet conduit up to said relief bore and a valve movable to seal said relief bore when the pressure within said inlet conduit exceeds that around such body.

7. In combination with a closed container for liquid, a liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point close to the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit extending into said container to below the liquid level therein, said conduit having a valve associated therewith above the liquid level in said container, said valve comprising a body having bores adapted'to respectively mmmunicate with different sections of said conduit, a branch bore connecting said bores, a relief bore extending from such branch bore out of said body, said relief bore having a greater efi'ective cross-sectional areathan the smallest cross-sectional area in the air supply conduit up to said relief bore and a valve movable to seal said relief bore and to open said relief bore according as the pressure within such inlet tube is greater or less than the pressure surrounding such body. c

8. In combination with a closed container for liquid, at liquid outlet conduit extending into said container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit comprising upper and lower sections extending into said container, said conduit terminating below the liquid level therein, a valve between said sections in said conduit above the liquid level in said container including a body having upper and lower ducts respectively associated with the upper and lower sections of the said conduit, a branch duct connecting said first-named ducts and opening out of said body, valve seats in said branch duct on opposite sides of said lower duct, one of said seats being between the end of said lower duct and the open end of said branch duct, and a valve member movable to engage said last-named seat as the pressure within the upper branch of said conduit is greater than the pressure within said container, and movable to engage the other seat as the pressure within said container is greater than the pressure within the upper branch of said conduit.

Signed by me this 16 day of June, 1930.

FRANCIS A. NASON. 

